Chapter 113: Chapter 105: Beat the Drum, Advance the Army

Five days later, outside Yanzhou City.

Riding on horseback, Xiang Rong gazed at the not-so-grand city before him, lost in thought.

He was quite curious about how Ruan Shantao’s disciple intended to deal with him. He had just led his army across the riverbank where defenses were easiest to set up, and through the forest where ambushes could be most easily arranged... From beginning to end, he hadn’t seen any signs of preparation, as if the resistance of Yanzhou City was non-existent.

This wasn’t the style Ruan Shantao would teach. If it were his old friend, he would certainly rely on the environment to set up multiple lines of defense, to kill as many of Xiang Rong’s prairie armored warriors as possible, dragging them out in the countryside of Yanzhou. Ruan Shantao would especially focus on guarding against and suppressing Xiang Rong himself and the fierce generals he brought along.

After being weakened layer by layer, even if the vanguard army managed to reach the city gates, they would be drained of their last drop of blood under Ruan Shantao’s watch.

If not using the Great Chu Overlord Halberd, this battle would likely unfold in such a way. Even if Ruan Shantao stationed in Yanzhou only held a bad hand, Xiang Rong never doubted his old friend’s skills, fearing that he really couldn’t win without using unconventional tactics.

But now, there’s nothing.

Nothing at all, from start to finish, there was nothing—defense lines, ambush troops, secret agents, traps... nothing. Along the way, not to mention soldiers of Southern Chen; he hadn’t even seen any scouts or patrol riders. Even now, as he had reached the foot of Yanzhou City, there were still no traces of guards on the city walls.

The vast Yanzhou City seemed to have become an empty city.

This didn’t fit Ruan Shantao’s style, but Xiang Rong had already guessed the other’s intentions.

"Trying to scare me?"

Xiang Rong scoffed.

Indeed, the greatest fear is the unknown, because no one knows what danger might lurk here—if it were any other general, they might really retreat to camp at this moment, as not everyone would be willing to risk their lives against the fear of the unknown.

But Xiang Rong was not afraid of such things.

As the last offspring of the Chu royal family, Xiang Rong was naturally bold and fearless. In his youthful days, he dared to hide his identity, traveling alone to the capital Jianye of Southern Chen’s court, even sneaking into the Imperial Academy as a scholar. Later, he traveled across the land, arriving at Ji North border earlier than Ruan Shantao did in Yanzhou. After confirming the decline of the Southern Chen court, he ventured to the Desert North Royal Court, earning the position of Desert North State Preceptor with his skills.

Such a bold and fearless person had long disregarded life and death, so what fear could an empty city pose to him?

Moreover, he had a reason he must enter the city.

The Overlord Halberd housed in his spinal bone had long been deprived of blood, growing increasingly weak. It needed a blood sacrifice sizable enough to restore some of its divine power—this Divine Soldier was already desperate, unwilling even to spare the broken corpse after Ruan Shantao transformed into a monster.

That wasn’t quite right. On one hand, as Xiang Rong had said, Ruan Shantao’s will didn’t resonate well with the Overlord Halberd, forcing it would be akin to drinking poison to quench thirst; additionally, Ruan Shantao was a friend from the past; killing him and then taking his corpse was somewhat disrespectful.

Besides, before Ruan Shantao’s remains, wasn’t there a better target for sacrifice in front of him?

"A city with over a hundred thousand people... A bit small, but it should satisfy the Overlord Halberd somewhat, right?"

Thinking so, Xiang Rong drew the soft sword at his waist.

"Hear my command! Enter the city!"

"Enter the city!"

"Enter the city!"

Amidst the shouts of the messengers and the thunderous war drums of the wizards, two intangible sword beams shattered the city gates with a roar.

And Xiang Rong, too, led his twenty thousand vanguard troops to move into the city.

Several deadly weapon-wielding assault generals were dispatched by Xiang Rong to lead various troops in steady advancement, while Xiang Rong himself, being the strongest force of the vanguard, commanded his troops along the main road of Yanzhou City—yet even after breaching the city, the vanguard troops still faced no resistance.

They didn’t even see a single living person.

"...Hmm?"

Xiang Rong’s eyebrows furrowed suddenly, sensing something amiss.

Even if Yanzhou City intended to intimidate him with an empty city strategy, they couldn’t possibly hide all ten-something thousand residents of Yanzhou City, could they?

The scale was astonishing... Why hadn’t he received any news of this before?

"Still not seeing anyone?"

Xiang Rong questioned his scout riders.

But even his scout riders were puzzled. Having wandered the city for quite a while, they hadn’t seen a single living person, let alone any Southern Chen ambush troops.

Moreover, amidst the roadside houses, there were leftover clothes, daily necessities, and even abandoned money. Clearly, the former residents of Yanzhou City had left in a hurry, even roughly.

"It seems like they were driven away."

The scout riders finally responded.

"Looks like these Southern Chen people really abandoned the city and fled."

"Fantastic! The State Preceptor’s might!"

"As expected of the State Preceptor!"

"With the State Preceptor stepping in, those timid Southern Chen people abandoned the city without hesitation!"

Hearing such reports from the scout riders, numerous prairie marshals couldn’t help but laugh heartily, repeatedly praising Xiang Rong’s achievements—this truly was praiseworthy, considering it was their first time fighting such a comfort-filled battle. Without losing a single soldier, the enemy fled in terror, a scene they had never witnessed before.

For this alone, Xiang Rong’s position in their hearts skyrocketed, almost equating with the celestial godlike Khagan residing deep in Desert North.

But only Xiang Rong couldn’t smile.

"Something’s wrong."

Xiang Rong’s brow furrowed tightly.

"Wrong, wrong... it’s wrong! The situation has changed! Quickly, recall all the other troops! We absolutely cannot divide our forces now!"

"Wha..."

The prairie marshals still hadn’t reacted, confused as to why this State Preceptor suddenly changed his demeanor.

Clearly, victory seemed assured, with all of Yanzhou City already under their control, but suddenly...

"Kill!!!"

At this moment, piercing shouts erupted from distant alleys—the voices of the prairie armored warriors.

Following that, fierce flames slashed across the sky.

"It’s you!"

Familiar flames appeared before him once again, Xiang Rong’s eyes widened in anger, with Evil Qi resembling an enraged lion!

"How dare you!"

"You really dared to come in..."

In the distant alleys, Du Chengfeng, mounted on horseback, glanced at the faraway sight, meanwhile, continuing to wield the Heavy Great Saber in his hand.

The fierce fire saber swept across, leaving behind swaths of severed limbs and remains amidst the ruins.

With just one stroke, eleven prairie armored warriors fell dead on the spot.

Yet, atop his horse, Du Chengfeng sighed.

"Not enough..."

Glancing at the saber in his hand, Du Chengfeng gently patted the blade to calm it.

"Don’t worry, there’s more to come."